December 08, (THEWILL) — Nigerian artist Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, has been named TikTok’s 2025 Artist of the Year at the Sub-Saharan Africa Awards.
The award ceremony took place on December 6 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
TikTok described “Laho,” the track behind his win, as a cultural reset, one that not only topped charts but also sparked viral trends and connected with audiences across the continent.
Reacting to his win, Shallipopi thanked TikTok for supporting young and emerging artists and giving them a platform to grow and succeed.
“I want to thank TikTok for supporting the music space … and for giving upcoming artists a chance to shine,” he said.
This year’s awards, themed “New Era, New Icons,” celebrated creators who used short-form video to shape culture, entertainment, education, and social impact across Africa.
TikTok’s Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Boniswa Sidwaba, said Nigeria’s success reflects the strength of its creative scene.
“With Nigerian creators securing six of the ten awards, we are honoured to celebrate their impact, especially as these victories were voted for by the TikTok community, who continue to champion the stories shaping culture,” she said.
Here’s a list of Nigerian creators who took home awards:
Artist of the Year Shallipopi
Creator of the Year Raja’atu Muhammed Ibrahim (aka @diaryofanortherncook)
Storyteller of the Year Brian Nwana (aka @briannwana)
Entertainment Creator of the Year Belove Olocha (aka @beloveolocha)
Education Creator of the Year Izzi Boye (aka @izziboye)
Social Impact Creator of the Year Dejoke Ogunbiyi (aka @noositiwantiwa_)
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
